Patent Application
20200317442
This patent specification relates to the field of containment devices. More specifically, this patent specification relates to a device that is configured to enclose portions of an appliance or other object to contain dirt, water, and other contaminants that the appliance may release.
Appliances, such as water heaters, by the nature of the task they are designed to accomplish, become dirty through use and often leak water, dirt, and other contaminants when moved. This makes the removal of the appliances a cumbersome task as care must be taken to prevent or minimize the leakage of these contaminants onto people and surfaces.
In order to facilitate the removal of appliances, people may resort to wearing gloves and wrapping the appliance in drop cloths, trash bags, or plastic tarps. Unfortunately, these methods have many drawbacks. Once gloves come in contact with a dirty surface, anything they come in contact afterwards will become contaminated as well. While drop cloths may be wrapped around and completely cover the appliance, any liquid will quickly seep through and leak onto floor surfaces, which may then be spread by the shoes of people carrying the appliance. The drop cloth must then be washed or thrown away resulting in increased costs and inconvenience. Plastic tarps may be wrapped around the appliance but they are difficult to maintain in position around the appliance. Also, like drop cloths, plastic tarps are prone to leaks, and they must be washed or thrown away after each use. Additionally, these tarps and the like may rip and tear thereby allowing the contaminants to leak out.
Therefore, a need exists for novel appliance containment devices. A further need exists for appliance containment devices device which are able to enclose portions of an appliance or other object to contain dirt, water, and other contaminants that the appliance may release. There is also a need for appliance containment devices which are able to be secured to an appliance in order to ensure appliance containment during transit. Finally, there is a need for appliance containment devices which are able to accommodate a wide range of appliance sizes and designs.
An appliance containment device is provided. The device may be used to facilitate the transport of an appliance, such as a water heater, preferably by being configured to enclose portions of the appliance to contain dirt, water, and other contaminants that the appliance may release.
In some embodiments, the device may include an encasement having a first end and a second end, and the second end may be coupled to a base. A cavity may be disposed in the encasement, and the cavity may extend between the first end and the base. A mat may be configured to contact the base, and the mat may be coupled to the base outside of the cavity.
In further embodiments, the device may include an encasement having a first end and a second end, and the second end may be coupled to a base. A cavity may be disposed in the encasement, and the cavity may extend between the first end and the base. A mat may be configured to contact the base. The mat may be configured to be coupled to bottom portions of an appliance, and the mat may be configured to be positioned inside the cavity with the appliance so that portions of the mat may contact portions of the base.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “rear”, “front”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Although the terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, the first element may be designated as the second element, and the second element may be likewise designated as the first element without departing from the scope of the invention.
As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
A new appliance containment device is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.
Generally, an encasement 11 may be configured as a flexible container for receiving all or portions of an appliance 200, such as a water heater. In preferred embodiments, an encasement 11 may comprise a generally hollow cylindrical shape to form a generally cylindrically shaped cavity 15. In other embodiments, an encasement 11 may comprise a generally hollow rectangular prism shape to form a generally rectangular prism shaped cavity 15. In other embodiments, an encasement 11 and a cavity 15 may be configured in any other shape. The encasement 11 preferably may be shaped to allow the cavity 15 to have a length of approximately 60 to 100 inches and a width of approximately 15 to 35 inches so that all or portions of an appliance 200, such as a water heater, may be received in the cavity 15. In other embodiments, an encasement 11 and a cavity 15 may be configured in any other size.
The encasement 11 may comprise a first end 12 and a second end 13, and the first end 12 may be open and the second end 13 may be coupled to a base 14. In this manner, portions of an appliance 200 may enter the cavity 15 via the open first end 12 and may be prevented from exiting the cavity 15 via the second end 13 by the base 14. In some embodiments, a first end 12 may be configured to slidably accept an embedded cord capable of drawing portions of the first end 12 together as it is tightened. As used herein the term “slidably accept” shall generally mean where a channel or conduit is capable of holding a cord within the channel with enough space to allow the cord to move back and forth freely within the channel. Tightening of the cord results in generally decreasing or closing of the opening of the first end. The cord may be made from natural or synthetic flexible materials such as nylon, plastic, cotton, and the like. In preferred embodiments, a cord lock may be positioned on the cord to maintain tension on the cord once it is tightened. The cord lock may be made from plastic, wood, or metal alloy. In other embodiments, a first end 12 may comprise any other fastener, device, or coupling method for securing portions of the first end 12 to itself and/or to an appliance 200.
In some embodiments and as shown in
A base 14 may be coupled to the second end 13 of an encasement 11 so that the base 14 may prevent objects, such as dirt, water, and contaminants, from exiting the cavity 15 through the second end 13. In some embodiments, a base 14 may be integrally formed with the encasement 11. In preferred embodiments, a base 14 may be coupled to the second end 13 of the encasement via heat welding, stitching, chemical, bonding, or any other suitable coupling method. In further preferred embodiments, the base 14 and encasement 11 may be coupled together a desired distance within one or both of their perimeters to form a base overhang 17 and/or an encasement overhang 18. Generally, a base overhang 17 may comprise a portion of the base 14 that does not contact the encasement 11 or cavity 15, while an encasement overhang 18 may comprise a portion of the encasement 11 that does not contact the base 14 or cavity 15.
An encasement 11 and a base 14 may be made from or may comprise a generally flexible material that may be waterproof In preferred embodiments, an encasement 11 and a base 14 may be made from or may comprise polymer sheeting, such as thin woven nylon or other fabric impregnated with liquid silicone (such as Silnylon), Polypropylene (PP), Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), any other polyethylene, Polyvinyl chloride, or any other flexible polymer material that may be waterproof In further embodiments, an encasement 11 and a base 14 may be made from or may comprise a laminate of woven and sheet polyethylene material, canvas, Waterproof Ripstop Nylon cloth that has been made waterproof by applying silicone on both sides of the fabric, and/or any other flexible material.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more mats 16. Optionally, a mat 16 which may be coupled to the base 14 outside of the cavity 15 and/or a mat 16 may be coupled to bottom portions of an appliance 200, and the mat 16 may be positioned inside the cavity 15 with the appliance 200. A mat 16 may be configured in any size and shape. In preferred embodiments, a mat 16 may be configured in a size and shape that may be larger than the base 14 and portions of an appliance 200 which may contact the base 14 and portions of the encasement 11 proximate to the base 14. In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more securement apertures 24, preferably disposed on or in the mat 16, which may be used to secure the device 100 to objects. A securement aperture 24 may be formed by a grommet or any other suitable fastener or device.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise one or more retainers 22 which may be used to couple portions of the device 100 to portions of an appliance 200. In preferred embodiments, one or more retainers 22 may be coupled to a mat 16, such as to one or more wings 22, and used to secure or couple the mat 16 around and to portions of the appliance 200. In some embodiments, a retainer 22 may comprise a length of velstretch or elastic Velcro material. In other embodiments, a retainer 22 may comprise a flexible material having an adhesive, such as adhesive tape, cord or ties, hook-and-loop type fasteners, magnetic fasteners, elastic hooks, or any other coupling method or device which may be used to couple a mat 16 to an appliance 200.
As shown in the example of
Generally, a mat 16 may be made from or may comprise a flexible material that preferably may be puncture resistant and friction reducing, such as poly backed fabric material, natural and/or synthetic fabrics, spun fiber fabrics, woven fiber fabrics, natural and/or synthetic rubber material such as latex rubber, silicone foam, silicone rubber, rubber foam, urethane foam, plastic foam, neoprene foam, latex foam rubber, polyurethane foam rubber, forms of the organic compound isoprene, Polyacrylate Rubber, Ethylene-acrylate Rubber, Polyester Urethane, flexible plastics, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC), low density polyethylene (LDPE), or any other flexible material including combinations of materials.
In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise an absorber 19 (
Turning now to
Referring now to
While some exemplary shapes and sizes have been provided for elements of the device 100, it should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that the encasement 11, mat 16, and any other element described herein may be configured in a plurality of sizes and shapes including “T” shaped, “X” shaped, square shaped, rectangular shaped, cylinder shaped, cuboid shaped, hexagonal prism shaped, triangular prism shaped, or any other geometric or non-geometric shape, including combinations of shapes. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible alternatives, equivalent forms or ramifications of the invention. It is understood that the terms and proposed shapes used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes, such as to size and shape, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Additionally, while some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, the elements that comprise the device 100 may be made from or may comprise durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device 100.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
